If you own an RV, or are thinking of buying one, you might consider buying one of the many RV Solar Kits available on the market these days. They can greatly extend the amount of time you are able to spend camping with the full benefits of sustainable renewable clean electricity.

When RV solar kits include quality solar panels that are installed in your RV, you rely less upon generators or batteries to power the lights and other electrical devices in your recreational vehicle.Having added the RV solar kits, some RVs can then stand on their own, without connecting up to external power sources.

How Solar Power Works in an RV

RV solar kits incorporate solar photovoltaic panels that convert solar energy into direct current. These panels are connected to an inverter, which turns the direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). AC is the type of electricity you normally get from a home wall socket. You can use this electricity to power the equipment and appliances inside your RV – making it possible for you to spend several days away from RV camps. And there is no need to use a noisy generator to power up your RV.

Types of RV Solar Kits

There are various types of RV solar kits available on the market today. Their outputs range from 50 to 440 watts. Their overall capacity will depend on a several factors, such as how much power you’ll need, and for how long you will need it. If you will only be out on the weekends, you won’t needs as much power as you might need if you live in your recreational vehicle for long periods of time.

You can make a rough estimate of what your total power consumption will be, by reviewing the equipment you will use in your RV, how many watts each item uses, and the duration of use of each item. The more power you use, the more RV solar panels you will need to purchase. An electrician might be able to help you with a power computation.

Choosing from the various RV solar kits available will also depend on the weather in your region. The solar panels will need sunlight in order to provide electricity. A system with an inverter and a built-in charger makes it possible to store energy in batteries, and then use that energy as a power source on days when no sunlight is available. Systems that aren’t set up this way can run out of power in bad weather.

RV Solar Kits

RV solar panels are usually available in DIY (do-it-yourself) kits. These RV solar kits typically include the following:

  • Charge controller
  • Intermodal cables
  • The actual solar panels
  • Output wires
  • Mounting structures
  • Fuses

If your energy requirement increases after you have installed solar panels for your RV, you can usually simply add additional panels. If you aren’t comfortable with installing the system yourself, you can ask the retailer of the RV solar kits to refer you to an installer. There are several installation centers across the United States.

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Anna Williams helps people understand how they can utilize solar power and clean energy to lead better lives. Visit her website, to find out more about Portable Solar Power and RV Solar Kits.

Or, if you’re looking for RV solar panels or other solar powered equipment, you can find a wide variety at her Solar Power Store.

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